Special occasions - college visits?

[squirk]

I have an upcoming stay at WDW, where my 16-y.o. and I will be checking out some colleges in central FL.

I know college tours are not the same thing as a birthday, wedding or family reunion, but it is kind of a big deal to start prepping for this life transition.

What would WDW do if I called up and mentioned this “special occasion”? I’m guessing I’m not the first person to ask this question.

Would they do anything more than take a sharpie and write “College Tour!” on a button? If that’s all they do, that’s fine. I’m just curious.

Thx.

 

[Indio]

That's all they would really do unless you specifically request something like buying a cake or ordering flowers or something. If she wears the button, she'll probably get a lot of congratulations and comments from cast members....

 

[Princess Mulan]

That's all they would really do unless you specifically request something like buying a cake or ordering flowers or something. If she wears the button, she'll probably get a lot of congratulations and comments from cast members....

She might or might not get any congratulations from cast members. I know someone who planned a blowout WDW vacation to celebrate graduation from medical school. Not one cast member commented upon her button (which she had to request, btw, despite noting the celebration on her resort and dining reservations). However, many guests noticed and congratulated her, and several initiated conversations, including parents encouraging their children to ask how to achieve such a monumental goal. The guests made her trip magical!

 

[squirk]

That's all they would really do unless you specifically request something like buying a cake or ordering flowers or something. If she wears the button, she'll probably get a lot of congratulations and comments from cast members....

Thanks! That is what I figured, but I've been wrong before. I'm not even sure if we really want any hullabaloo, but I just wanted to know what my options were.

 

[JJ2017]

Just chiming in. I'm a college counselor and wanted to send best wishes! Exciting time....and to incorporate Disney into the search, how fun!!!!

 

[Best Aunt]

She might or might not get any congratulations from cast members. I know someone who planned a blowout WDW vacation to celebrate graduation from medical school. Not one cast member commented upon her button (which she had to request, btw, despite noting the celebration on her resort and dining reservations). However, many guests noticed and congratulated her, and several initiated conversations, including parents encouraging their children to ask how to achieve such a monumental goal. The guests made her trip magical!

I have a friend who is a cast member. When she is in the parks and not working, she comments on people's buttons. So that random guest who says something may actually be a cast member.

 

[HopperFan]

Thousands and thousands of people are at Disney celebrating something every day ...
............ thousands of them put it on their reservation .......
...... there is simply no way for Disney do something for them
as it would be expected by every one, for every little thing.

Go get your button, write on it what you want and wear it.
Maybe you'll get comments, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll get REALLY lucky with pixie dust but odds are you won't.

If you want something special done, be prepared to order and pay for it.
Searching will give you ideas of what folks did for their family members.

 

[mousestruck]

We actually incorporated Disney into my son’s college tours and his drop-off! We live in NJ, so we even had some of his stuff shipped to our resort! Then we rented a car for 2 days to bring him to school. Was bittersweet for us, but very exciting for him!

We did share with CM’s and they were all super nice and celebratory, but nothing crazy.... just a lot of congrats and maybe a free ice cream along the way!

Good luck with your search! My son will be graduating from University of Florida this May!

 

[WEDWDW]

I have a friend who is a cast member. When she is in the parks and not working, she comments on people's buttons. So that random guest who says something may actually be a cast member.

Yes-I've talked to Cast Members who told me it is so much "second-nature" to them to comment on buttons that they do it without even thinking about it when in the Parks "off-duty".

I find that so cool.

 

[squirk]

Thousands and thousands of people are at Disney celebrating something every day ...
............ thousands of them put it on their reservation .......
...... there is simply no way for Disney do something for them
as it would be expected by every one, for every little thing.

Go get your button, write on it what you want and wear it.
Maybe you'll get comments, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll get REALLY lucky with pixie dust but odds are you won't.

If you want something special done, be prepared to order and pay for it.
Searching will give you ideas of what folks did for their family members.

That's fine. I wasn't expecting anything, per se. Just curious if this type of request was common enough where Disney actually did something particular and unique. Thanks!

 

[squirk]

Just chiming in. I'm a college counselor and wanted to send best wishes! Exciting time....and to incorporate Disney into the search, how fun!!!!

Thanks. We had an odd lot of DVC points left over, so it worked out well having our hotel costs covered.

This is my oldest kid, so it's my first time starting to make plans for college. Exciting and scary, and a little sad knowing he might be moving away from us in 18 months.

 

[JJ2017]

Thanks. We had an odd lot of DVC points left over, so it worked out well having our hotel costs covered.

This is my oldest kid, so it's my first time starting to make plans for college. Exciting and scary, and a little sad knowing he might be moving away from us in 18 months.

Even though I'm about 11 years away from my oldest going to college, I'm already secretly planning to guide him to a central Florida school for the sole purpose of needing extra visits to WDW

 

[squirk]

Even though I'm about 11 years away from my oldest going to college, I'm already secretly planning to guide him to a central Florida school for the sole purpose of needing extra visits to WDW

That wasn't part of my plan per se, but I admit that the proximity to WDW would be a nice perk to help take the edge off of the $55k/yr. tuition.